The education secretary has refused to meet local MPs to discuss the future of a Merseyside school at the centre of a row about the government’s controversial academies programme.

Conservative cabinet member Nicky Morgan turned down a request by three Merseyside MPs to discuss plans to close Halewood Academy’s sixth form.

Maria Eagle, Labour MP for Garston and Halewood, said it was “outrageous” that the Department for Education wrote back more than two weeks later offering a meeting with schools minister Nick Gibb instead.

The closure would make Knowsley the only borough in England with no A Level provision - other than the Isles of Scilly and City of London, which both have under 10,000 residents.

Maria Eagle said: “It is outrageous that the Secretary of State has declined a meeting to discuss the proposed closure of Halewood Academy Sixth Form and demonstrates the arrogance of a Tory government intent on ploughing through with the forced academisation of schools without listening to people, like my constituents, who will be directly affected.

Maria Eagle

“As the Education Secretary is aware, the closure of Halewood Academy Sixth Form would leave Knowsley Borough without any A Level provision which is completely unacceptable and limits the options available to young people in the local area.

"The fact that she is unwilling to meet Knowsley MPs to discuss the proposals is an outrage.”

The ECHO approached the Department for Education for a comment but has not yet received a response.